How to Decorate Cheesecake

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cheesecake has a plain top to it as a dessert.

But it can be decorated with fruit sauces, chocolate covered strawberries, candied lemon slices, sugared raspberries, mint leaves, whipped cream, or chocolate decorations to enhance and compliment your cheesecake.

Try decorating your next cheesecake with one of these eye catching garnishes.

Compote

Compote is a sweet berry flavored sauce that will compliment cheesecake and give it a fruity finish.

You can drizzle berry compote over each cheesecake slice to decorate it.

Another option is to put a spoonful on a plate, and then smear it like a checkmark.

cheesecake decoration ideas

Vanilla Whipped Cream

Vanilla whipped cream is a soft, creamy topping you can decorate your cheesecake with.

Whipped cream will stand out on a cheesecake that has compote drizzled on top of it.

Otherwise whipped cream will be slightly brighter than your cheesecake color. You can use the star tip to create a rose shape on the wider end of each slice of cheesecake.

Velvety smooth vanilla whipped cream will add a rich flavor to cheesecake.

How to Decorate Cheesecake

Chocolate Decoration

Chocolate decorations can be made with your favorite type of chocolate (dark, milk, or white chocolate).

All you need to do is melt your chocolate, and pipe the chocolate in an intricate design on a piece of parchment paper.

Place the chocolate in the freezer to make it sturdy, and then gently place it on top of the cheesecake.

It also works well if you put a little whipped cream on the cheesecake first, and then place the chocolate decoration into the whipped cream.

How to Decorate Cheesecake

Chocolate Ganache

Chocolate ganache is a rich and creamy chocolate layer that will cover the cheesecake.

Chocolate ganache is made by placing hot heavy cream over chocolate, and then letting the cream melt the chocolate. By mixing the two together until it’s smooth, this creates the rich ganache chocolate flavoring.

decoration ideas for cheesecake

Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit can be used to decorate cheesecake with a burst of sweet berries or slices of kiwi.

You can arrange raspberries or blackberries to be flat end down on top of the cheesecake, so they look like they’re standing up.

If you cut the top off of strawberries, you can do the same and stand them up to give the cheesecake a textured look with a pop of color.

If you slice strawberries or kiwi’s into thin pieces, you can arrange them from the outside of the cheesecake, and then layer them on top of one another.

Continue placing the fruit towards the center of the cheesecake until it’s fully decorated.

  • blackberries
  • blueberries
  • raspberries
  • kiwi slices
  • sliced strawberries
How to Decorate Cheesecake

Chocolate Sauce

Chocolate sauce is a sweet sauce that will add a hint of chocolate to cheesecake.

You can use chocolate sauce on top of whipped cream or slices of strawberries for a beautiful look to your cheesecake.

You can even make a crisscross design with chocolate sauce on top of the whipped cream if desired.

Chocolate sauce goes well with strawberry cheesecake, vanilla cheesecake, or raspberry cheesecake.

Zest

You can add lime zest, lemon zest, or orange zest to the top of your cheesecake for a hint of citrus and a beautiful pop.

You can add zest to vanilla cheesecake, lime cheesecake, or lemon cheesecake.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

You can make chocolate covered strawberries ahead of time, and then use them to decorate your cheesecake.

After you’ve made your cheesecake, you can pipe whipped cream on the edges around the cheesecake.

In each of the whipped cream roses, gently place a chocolate strawberries to sit inside the rose.

You can even color the whipped cream pink for a colorful top to your cheesecake.

decorating cheesecake with strawberries

Candied Lemon Slices

Slices of lemon are cooked in a sugar syrup to create an outer candy layer.

The lemon slices need to cool and drain dry before placing them onto your cheesecake.

Since the lemon slices are candied with a sugar coating, they are sweet and delicious for garnishing your cheesecake with.

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

Chocolate covered coffee beans add a hint of coffee to cheesecake.

Chocolate covered coffee beans are crunchy, so they add a hard texture when biting into the cheesecake.

Chocolate covered coffee beans are overwhelming with flavor, therefore you only need a couple to decorate your cheesecake with.

Salted Caramel Sauce

Salted caramel sauce is a sticky, sweet and salty flavor you can add on top of your cheesecake.

Salted caramel goes well with chocolate cheesecake to add a hint of sugar and a unique salty finish.

Icing Roses

Using the star tip, you can pipe buttercream icing roses on the edges of the cheesecake.

If you’re making mini cheesecakes, pipe 1 large icing rose on the top of it.

Icing decorations on the top of the cheesecake will make it look artistic and eye catching. You can color buttercream icing to fit the flavoring of your cheesecake.

Mint Leaves

You can arrange a few mint leaves in the whipped cream on top of your cheesecake, or beside a bit of fresh fruit for a pop of green color.

Ferrero Rocher

Ferrero rochers can be chopped up into small pieces to top cheesecake with.

Ferro rocher pieces work well on top of chocolate cheesecake, or vanilla cheesecake.

Sugared Raspberries

Sugared raspberries are a sugary sweet fruit that look chef worthy on top of cheesecake.

You can make them at home by simply coating raspberries with egg whites, and then rolling them in granulated sugar.

Sugared raspberries go well on top of vanilla cheesecake, lemon cheesecake, raspberry cheesecake or chocolate cheesecake.

Chocolate scrolls

Use a potato peeler and grate the chocolate away from you to create chocolate scrolls on top of your cheesecake.

cheesecake decoration ideas

7 No Bake Cheesecake Crust Ideas

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

No bake cheesecake crusts are easy to make using nuts or cookies as the base for your cheesecake.

Some of the cheesecake crusts are set in the fridge to let it solidify.

Make sure to press the cheesecake crust firmly to make it an even layer, and be sturdy enough to hold the cheesecake.

Try making one of these no bake cheesecake crusts for your next rich, creamy cheesecake!

Hazelnut Crust

Hazelnut crust is a sweeter crust, since it’s made with dates.

Blended dates, and toasted hazelnut pieces are combined in a food processor with vanilla extract, and maple syrup.

The hazelnut cheesecake base is pressed into the bottom of the pan, and it’s ready to use.

Oreo Cookie Crust

Oreo cookie crust is a sweet, crunchy, cookie crust for a cheesecake base.

Oreo cookie crust is made by crushing Oreo’s into small pieces using a rolling pin, or blending them in a food processor.

The small bits of Oreo’s are mixed together with melted butter to create the cookie crust.

The cookie crust is pressed into a springform pan, and then you can refrigerate the crust to let it set.

No Bake Cheesecake Crust Ideas

Almond Crust

Almond crust is a crunchy, nutty cheesecake flavored base.

Slivered almonds are ground into a fine powder using a food processor.

The almonds are combined with brown sugar and melted butter to make the almond cheesecake base.

The almond cheesecake crust is pressed into the bottom of the cheesecake pan, and it’s ready to use.

No Bake Cheesecake Crust recipes

Walnut Crust

Walnut crust is a sweet and crunchy cookie base for a cheesecake.

Walnuts are blended in a food processor until they are fine like a powder.

Shortbread cookies are crushed with a rolling pin, and then they are combined with the walnuts, sugar, and melted butter.

Walnut cheesecake crust is pressed into the springform pan, and it’s ready to use.

Coconut Cookie Crust

Coconut cookie crust has a hint of coconut in the crust from adding coconut flakes to the cheesecake base.

Digestive cookies are blended in a food processor until they are coarse cookie crumbs. The digestive cookie crumbs are combined with sugar, coconut flakes, and melted butter to make the coconut cookie cheesecake base.

The crust is pressed into the pan, it’s ready to use.

Ice Cream Cone Crust

Ice cream cone crust is an easy crust you can make with a couple leftover ice cream cones.

Place the ice cream cones in a food processor, and blend until they become small pieces or a fine powder.

Mix the ice cream cones with a bit of sugar and melted butter to create the cheesecake base.

Press the base into the bottom of your pan, and then you can add your cheesecake layer on top.

There is no need to bake or chill an ice cream cone cheesecake base.

Digestive Cookie Crust

Digestive Cookie Crust is a crunchy biscuit base for cheesecake.

You can make the cookie crust by crushing the cookies with a rolling pin, or blending them in a food processor.

Mix the cookie crumbs with some melted butter, and press it to the bottom of your pan.

You can either chill the crust to let it set.

No Bake Cheesecake Crust alternatives

17 Cheesecake Crust Ideas

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you think about having cheesecake, it’s a creamy, rich dessert with a classic graham cracker crunchy crust.

But you can make cheesecake crusts out of many different types of foods, including nuts, wafers, biscuits, lady fingers, red velvet cake, cinnamon buns, brownies, pretzels, and ice cream cones.

Try making one of these unique, alternative cheesecake crusts for your next decadent cheesecake!

Oreo Cookie Crust

Oreo cookie crust is a sweet, crunchy, cookie crust for a cheesecake base.

Oreo cookie crust is made by crushing Oreo’s into small pieces using a rolling pin, or blending them in a food processor.

The small bits of Oreo’s are mixed together with melted butter to create the cookie crust.

The cookie crust is pressed into a springform pan, and then you can refrigerate the crust, or bake it in the oven to let it set.

Cheesecake Crust Ideas

Peanut Butter Cookie Crust

Peanut butter cookie crust is a sweet, nutty cheesecake crust that goes well with caramel cheesecake, or chocolate cheesecake.

Peanut butter cookie crust is made by actually making the dough for peanut butter cookies.

The peanut butter cookie dough is frozen first, and then pressed into a springform pan.

The pan is baked in the oven for 25 minutes (much longer than other cheesecake crusts) because it’s a thick cookie crust.

The crust needs to cool to room temperature prior to adding the cheesecake filling on top, otherwise the cheesecake filling will “cook” prematurely.

Cinnamon Bun Crust

Cinnamon bun crust is a spongy crust for a cheesecake.

Cinnamon bun cake is made by adding cinnamon and brown sugar to a cake base, and then the it’s poured into a springform pan.

The cinnamon bun cheesecake base is baked in the oven for about 25 minutes to let it set.

Cinnamon bun cheesecake crust goes well with cinnamon cheesecake, vanilla cheesecake, or pumpkin cheesecake.

Brownie Base

Brownie base for a cheesecake is a thick, chocolatey, cheesecake base.

Brownies are made by adding dark chocolate and cocoa powder to a cake base, and adding it to a springform pan.

The brownie cheesecake base is baked in the oven for 15 minutes to set the brownies crust.

Brownie cheesecake crust goes well with vanilla cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, or caramel cheesecake.

Gingersnap Crust

Gingersnap crust is a cookie crust that goes well with pumpkin cheesecake.

Gingersnap cookies are blended in a food processor until they are coarse crumbs.

Gingersnap crumbs are mixed together with melted butter, vanilla extract, and brown sugar to create the gingersnap cheesecake crust.

Gingersnap cheesecake base is baked in the oven for a few minutes to let the crust set.

Lady Finger Crust

Lady finger crust is an espresso flavored cheesecake base that works well for tiramisu cheesecake.

Lady finger cookies are pulsed in a food processor until they are in small, fine pieces.

Lady finger cookie pieces are mixed together with melted butter and strong espresso or coffee to make the cheesecake base.

The lady finger cheesecake base is pressed into a springform pan and then it can either be baked in the oven, or frozen to set the crust.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Base

Red velvet cheesecake base is a chocolate, spongy cheesecake base.

Red velvet cheesecake base is actually a red velvet cake bottom. Red velvet cake is made by adding cocoa powder and red food coloring to a cake base. The cake base is added to a springform pan, and baked in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Red velvet cheesecake base is a thick crust for cheesecake, that goes well with Oreo cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, or vanilla cheesecake.

Hazelnut Crust

Hazelnut crust is a sweeter crust, since it’s made with dates.

Blended dates, and toasted hazelnut pieces are combined in a food processor with vanilla extract, and maple syrup.

The hazelnut cheesecake base is pressed into the bottom of the pan, and it’s ready to use.

Chocolate Base

Chocolate cheesecake base is a chocolatey, crunchy cookie base for a cheesecake.

Chocolate cheesecake base is made by crushing chocolate wafer cookies, and mixing them together with melted butter.

The chocolate cheesecake crust is pressed into a springform pan, and then it’s baked in the oven to set the crust.

Cheesecake Crust alternatives

Pretzel Crust

Pretzel crust is a crunchy cheesecake crust that works well for a peanut butter cheesecake, or chocolate cheesecake.

Pretzel cheesecake crust is a salty base, which balances out the sweetness of the cheesecake filling.

Pretzels are crushed with a rolling pin until they are small and fine pieces.

The pretzels are mixed together with melted butter, brown sugar, and salt to create the pretzel cheesecake base.

The pretzel cheesecake crust is baked in the oven to let it set.

Almond Crust

Almond crust is a crunchy, nutty cheesecake flavored base.

Slivered almonds are ground into a fine powder using a food processor.

The almonds are combined with brown sugar and melted butter to make the almond cheesecake base.

The almond cheesecake crust is pressed into the bottom of the cheesecake pan, and it’s ready to use.

Cheesecake Crust Ideas

Walnut Crust

Walnut crust is a sweet and crunchy cookie base for a cheesecake.

Walnuts are blended in a food processor until they are fine like a powder.

Shortbread cookies are crushed with a rolling pin, and then they are combined with the walnuts, sugar, and melted butter.

Walnut cheesecake crust is pressed into the springform pan, and it’s ready to use.

You don’t need to bake or chill the crust.

Graham Cracker Crust

Graham cracker crust is a classic cheesecake base.

Graham cracker crumbs are mixed together with sugar and melted butter to create the crunchy cheesecake crust.

The graham cracker mixture is pressed into the cheesecake pan, and then cheesecake bake is baked in the oven to set the crust.

Digestive Cookie Crust

Digestive Cookie Crust is a crunchy biscuit base for cheesecake.

You can make the cookie crust by crushing the cookies with a rolling pin, or blending them in a food processor.

Mix the cookie crumbs with some melted butter, and press it to the bottom of your pan. You can either chill the crust, or bake it in the oven to let it set.

Cheesecake crust options

Ice Cream Cone Crust

Ice cream cone crust is an easy crust you can make with a couple leftover ice cream cones.

Place the ice cream cones in a food processor, and blend until they become small pieces or a fine powder.

Mix the ice cream cones with a bit of sugar and melted butter to create the cheesecake base.

Press the base into the bottom of your pan, and then you can add your cheesecake layer on top.

There is no need to bake or chill an ice cream cone cheesecake base.

Coconut Cookie Crust

Coconut cookie crust has a hint of coconut in the crust from adding coconut flakes to the cheesecake base.

Digestive cookies are blended in a food processor until they are coarse cookie crumbs. The digestive cookie crumbs are combined with sugar, coconut flakes, and melted butter to make the coconut cookie cheesecake base.

The crust is pressed into the pan, and there is no need to bake or chill the crust. It’s ready to use.

Vanilla Wafer Crust

Vanilla wafer crust has a crunchy, vanilla flavoring for a cheesecake base.

Vanilla wafers can be blended in a food processor until they are quite fine, and then combine with melted butter to create a vanilla cheesecake base.

Press the crust into the bottom of the cheesecake pan.

Vanilla wafer cheesecake base is baked in the oven to let it set.